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We must nail the basics - Costelow
The Rugby Paper
|June 29, 2025
THE contrast between this summer’s trip and Wales’ last tour of Japan could hardly be more acute.
Back in 2013, they headed to the Far East as Six Nations champions, having secured the title in thrilling fashion by thumping England 30-3 in Cardiff.
This time they travel with a wooden spoon in their luggage after suffering a second successive Championship whitewash.
Twelve years ago, they were ranked sixth in the world. Now they are down in 12th following a record 17 Tests defeats in a row.
To further emphasise the change in fortunes, no fewer than 15 Welsh players were selected for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia. This time around, just two received the call for the trip Down Under.
That does mean they are able to take on Japan with much closer to their first-choice team than was the case last time around when it was very much a second string selection.
This story is from the June 29, 2025 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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